Control for bottom filling of containers



May 1 1, 1943- R. B. McKlNNls 2,319,075

CONTROL FOR BOTTOM FILLING OF CONTAINERS Filed April 28, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l /47 F. l J9 4.

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CONTROL FOR BOTTOM FILLING OF CONTAINERS Filed April. 28, 1941 3 Sheets-,Sheet 2 R. B. MQKINNIS' CONTROL FOR. BOTTOM FILLINGOF `coNTAImIRs May 11, 1943.

A s sheets-sheet s Filed April 28, 1941 Mvg resented May 11,1943

CONTROL FOR. BOTTOM FILLING F CONTAINERS Ronald B. Mcm'nnis, winter Haven, F1a., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ronald B. Mc- Kinnis, doingbusiness as McKinnis Foods,

Winter Haven, Fla.

Application April as, rsa1, serial No. $590,815 1c claims. (ci. 22o-rai) The present invention relates in general to apparatus for lling containers with liquid and more specically to an apparatus for lling containers with-liquids that are subject to oxidation, such as, the juices of citrus fruits wherein the liquids are maintained out-ofcontact with the atmosphere. Of course, itis to be understood that the apparatus can be employed for lling receptacles with liquids of other types.

lt is well known lthat it is necessary to employ extreme care in filling containers with fruit juices to prevent the oxidation of the juices. The old style mechanisms for hlling the containers from the bottom have been complicated in construction and slow in operation.

An object oi the present apparatus is to provide a machine whereby the juices may be 'llled from the bottom of the container which is simple in construction and operation.

Anotherv object of the present invention is to provide apparatusfor lling the`receptacle or container from the bottom, the vcontainer remaining open during lling, but by the employment ci inert gas or other suitable fluids to produce a blanketing of the surface of the liquid during the lling operation, oxidation of the juices is prevented.

Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for nlling cans in which the lling operation is so controlled that the opened receptacle is. subjected to a. blast of inert gas to force out of the same the atmospheric air and after a predetermined period of time, the blast of blanketing uid is followed by the introduction of a stream of the juice, the stream being surrounded in a tube of mobile inert gas or steam.

In addition to the objects hereinabove mentioned, l'. provide a I,mechanism which will ll the containers to the' desired level whereby the top edge of the container becomes a gauge, so to speahby which the quantity of liquid permitted to :dow into the container can be determined,

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same vinto practical eilect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, ,have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a. transverse sectional view of my lling apparatus showing the liquid and blanketing valves.

Figure 2l isl a sectional view taken along the line of Figure l, looking in the direction oi the arrows. f

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction or the arrows.

ifigure 4 is a sectional view taken along 'the line t-d` of Figure l, looking in the direction oi the arrows.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the control system for actuating the piling operation.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularlyA to Figures 1 and 2, I have shown a valve mechanism indicated generally for controlling the citrus juices or other liquids that are adapted Ito be lled into the containers, one of which is designated by the numeral 2, A second valve mechanism designated generally 3 is provided to control the ow of a blanketing iluid such as steam or inert gas that is adapted to blanket or surround the juice during the iilling operation. As best shown in Egure 2, the valve i' is provided with a body portion l formed with a lateral extension 5 having an axial bore through which the juicey is adapted to be fed to a central chamber of the valve body. Secured to the extremity or the extension 5 by a threaded ange cap or coupling i is a juice conduit d which is in com munication with a source of juice supply (not indicated). As shown in Figure 2, the extension E is provided with a threaded portion 5a which is received in a bracket Ga supported on the lllng machine. A nut 5b is mounted on ythe portion 5a and cooperates with a shoulder against which the bracket abuts to grip the bracket la.

A threaded opening 9 diametrically opposed to the inner end of the extension 5 is provided vin the valve body t to enable the interior of the valve to be cleaned, etc., anda threaded plug l0 normally closes this opening.. 1

Secured to the upper face of the valve body by screws or the like Il is a hollow sleeve I2., f.

A peripherally threaded ilange i3 is carried by 2 the upper end of the sleeve |2` as an integral part thereof. A cover member or solenoid housing |4 is adapted to be threaded onto the ilange I3. Interposed between the upper face of the valve body and the hollow sleeve I2 is a neoprene diaphragm I5. Attached to the diaphragm I5 is a valve stem I6 which extends through a tube I1 secured at its upper end in a threaded aperture |8 formed in the lower portion of the valve body. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the tube I1 extends to a point adjacent to the bottom of the container 2 and the lower end of the stem I6 carries a disc valve I9 of any` suitable construction which closes the lower open end of the tube. Valve disc |4 is secured by screw I9a to the lower end of stem I6.

Attached to the upper end of the stem I6, as shown at 20, is a` solenoid connecting rod 2| which extends through a peripherally threaded guide 22 threadedly mounted in the sleeve I2 which is internally threaded for this purpose as shown. 'I'he upper end of the rod 2|- is secured o an armature 23 of a solenoid device indicated generally by reference character 2,4. The armature slides in a barrel 25 which is carried by the upper end of sleeve I2 within the casing I4. The solenoid 24 is of course provided with a conventional solenoid winding 26 which is adapted upon being energized to lower the armature 23, and consequently lower the solenoid connecting rod 2| and the stem I6 to open the valve I9. A helical coil spring 21 surrounds the rod 2| and one end thereof bears against' a collar 2B ilxed on rod 2| and the other end bears against the rod guide 22. It will be appreciated that the spring 21 normally holds the stem I6 in the position shown in Figure 1, or in other words, maintains the valve I9 in its closed y position.

Sleeve I2 is provided with an elongated slotI 29 wherein is mounted for vertical movement a stop 30 formed with an adjusting and setting head 3|. Obviously, by varying the position of the stop 30 in the slot 29 the amount cf movement of the collar 28 can be regulated, thus limiting the amount of the opening of the valve I9. In connection with the neoprene diaphragm it might be mentioned that this member will prevent any liquid in the valve body 4 from coming into contact with the solenoid and-its various operating parts.

Attached to the valve body 4 is a bracket 33 which carries a hub 34. A vertical rod 35 is mounted in the hub 34 for vertical movement and is formed with an axially extending groove or slot 36. A screw 31 has a reduced end engaging in the slot 36, and thus prevents the rod 35 from turning in the hub 34. An adjustable collar 38 is also provided on the rod 35 for limiting its downward movement. Secured to the lower end of the rod 35, as shown at 39, is an insulatirLg block 40. An internally threaded metal sleeve 4| is fitted into an aperture formed in the block 40 and an electrode 42 provided ,with a knurled head 42a is tted into the sleeve.

The body of the electrode is provided with screw threads which enable the tip of the electrode to adjustably extend below the lower surface of the insulating block 40 to a desired distance.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that when the block 40 is in its lowermost position, it rests on the rim of the container 2 and that the tip of the electrode projects into the interior of the container to the exact level to which it is desired to ll the container.

The tube I1 surrounding the valve stem I6 functions as the other electrode cooperating with electrode 42 to complete an electrical circuit through the juice. The complete electricai circuit controlling the operation of the valves will later be more fully described.

The valve 3 which controls the iiow of the steam or inert gas for blanketing the juice in the container is provided with a body portion 45 having a central aperture or chamber 46. A threaded nipple 41 providing communication with chamber 46 is integrally formed on the `lower portion of the body 45. and is attached to a conduit or pipe 49 by a threaded coupling 48. The opposite end of the conduit 49 is connected by a coupling 5I to a threaded nipple 50 communicating with the interior of a chamber or nozzle 50a threadedly mounted on a boss 4a on the lower end of body 4. y

Suitably xed to the upper surface of the body 45 is a hollow sleeve 52 which is formed at its upper end with an annular flange 53 having a peripherally threaded surface onto which is screwed a solenoid housing 54. Between the sleeve 52 and the valve body 45 is disposed a neoprene diaphragm 55 through which extends a valve stem 56. The valve stern has at its lower end a conical valve body 51 which is adapted to engage a seat 58 formed in the lower part of chamber 46. i

The upper end of the valve stem 56l is suitably secured to an armature 59 which slides in a barrel 60 of a solenoid construction indicated generally by reference character 6|. The solenoid 6|, of course, is housed within the member 54 and is provided with a conventional winding 62. The armature 59 is maintained normally in the position shown in Figure 1 (its down position) by means of a helical spring 63 which is disposed between the upper end of the armature and the top of the housing 54. An adjusting screw 64 extends through the housing 54 and through the helical spring to provide the upper limit of movement of the armature 59, the position of which can be varied.

In general, iirst I subject the apparatus to a purging step wherein steam or inert gas, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen or a mixture thereof, is discharged in a blanket through the conduit 49 into the chamber or nozzle 50a and through the aperture formed in the bottom thereof into the container 2 by which the container is purged of atmospheric air. After this purging step, the juice is discharged through the conduit 8 into the valve chamber through the tube |1 past the valve I9 and into the bottom of the container.

In'Figure 5 of the drawings, there are shown two electrical conductors 10 and 1I which are connected for instance to volt mains and two conductors 12 and 13 which are supplied by a current of reduced voltage, for instance of approximately twelve volts. sisting of the tube I1 and the vertically adjustable electrode 42 are included in a circuit 14 which is adapted to be closed or completed when the surface of the juice or liquid in the can 2 rises to the desired level. Circuit 14 is connected at 15- to conductor 12 and at 16 to conductor 13 of the low voltage supply line so as to impress a potential of approximately twelve volts thereon.

Circuit 14 includes a coil 11 of a shut-oilrelay 18, which comprises an armature 19 adapted normally to be in the position shown in Figure 5 The electrodes conle which serves as a switch is connected v adapted to engage a contact ci which is connected by e. ed to a contact 83 of starting switch te. Contact et is also connected by condoctor 85 to a contact et of a valve relay di.

The valve relay el is normally opened as indicated in Figure and comprises a double arm switch 1 consisting ci a maintain arm te and an energizing circuit arm ed. A conductor ci. connects the. maintain' www Se to the other contact t2 of the starting switch dd. y

rin energizing coil et of the valve relay tl has one of its 'ends connected by wire @t to the contact e2 and the other end of said coil di is connected by a wire @d to the wire d2 at the point lf3. Coil @d 'serves as the energizing means for moving an armature for actuating the double arm switch 8d. t As illustrated in Figure 5, the relay 8l is provided with a contact @d adapted to be engaged hy the switch ann et when the latter is in its closed position. In this connection it will be noted that the switch arm d@ is connected to the rnain line conductor li. Said contact Se of the relay il is connected by conductor @l to one end ci the winding di. of the solenoid 3, the other end o said wing being connected to one oi the main line conductors it.

il. thermal switch winding @d is connected at one end by a conductor 99 to said conductor @l and at its other end by a wire it@ to said main line conductor lt. The thermal switch lili is provided with a movable thermal element mi which upon being heated hy the winding e8 is adapted to move its contact itil into engagement with a contact it@ which is connected to the aforesaid contact @d by means oi a lead ii. The other end oi the switch arm ici of the thermal switch is connected by a conductor itt to the winding it ofthe solenoid it, and the other end of said solenoid winding is connected by a wire till to said main line conductor ld.

in operation, the receptacle or can 2 is placed` underneath the valve assembly, in a position as indicated in Figure l. of the drawings with the electrode :l2 extending downwardly into the can to a level to which it is desired to fill the can with licuid. The starting switched is then actuated which closes the circuit between contacts d3 and ing switch through wire, contact 8S, switch arm te and conductor ti to contact Q2. Upon the completion of this circuit, the starting switch et may be released, and the coil 93 will remain energized to maintain the switch arms 39 and Sd in engagement with their contacts.

Upon. engagement of the switch arm 9@ with the contact 96, a circuit is completed from main line conductor 'l0 through the winding G2 of the the steam or gas valve control solenoid and through conductor el to contact 96 and from the latter through arm et tothe other conductor 'il of the main line. Upon completion of this circuit and ener the winding B2,-.the steam or inert gas valve tl is opened against the action of the spring tt, and steam or inert gas is discharged through pipe ed into the chamber 5ta and downwardly through the opening 5th in the lower face or said chamber into the container or can i positioned beneath the same.

e the ste or inert gas is owing into the cont 1er or can, the winding Se of the therswitch iti becomes heated by completion of the circuit from conductor it, through wire itt, winding et and wires @t and tl to contact et and thence through arm te to main line conductor li. The heating edect of winding do causes the thermal it to become heated-and to wary,l thereby bringing its contact it@ into engagement with contact idd. y'-v completes a circuit from mainline conductor it through wire icl, solenoid coil 25. wire tot, arm itt, contacts it, ict, wire ide, contact et and thence through arm et to main line conductor li. 'lhus, after a predetermined time it to enable the container 2 to be hlled and purged with steam or inert gas, a circuit n completed through the winding it oi the solenoid oi valve i. winding controlling the valve i, said valve is displaced downwardly causing the rod it to move the valve body itl away lfrom the-lower end oi the tube Hl to permit the ow of juiceor other liquid into the can in the bottom thereoi.

.As the juice or other liquid enters the can t et the hott-.oni thereof, it forces the blanket of ste or inert gas upwardly and out through the onen upper end ci' said can as the level of the liquid deposited in the bottom of the can rises.

The inert gas or steam lies 'in the form oil a blot on ton ci the rising liquid in the contailler and prevents access of air or oxygen to the juice. There will he a considerable quantity or ste or inert gas which will dnd its way into bubbles beneath the surface oi the juice, but since this material is entirely non-oxidizing, no delen terious cdects will he obtained. In fact, the foam on the surface o the iuicc as it rises in the con tainer also tends to blanket the main body of the juice in the container against oxidation et fects of the atmosphere.,

.As the surface of the juice rises, it eventually reaches the contact point -oi the electrode d, and when this level is reached, a circuit is completed between the tube il and the electrode et.

Referring to Figure 5 o f the drawings, it will be noted that when a connection is made by the liquid between the electrodes il and t2, a circuit is completed from point 'l5 on the low potential conductor ,l2 through the winding ll of the shut-od relay le and thence through conductor ide vto electrode di, through the liquid to electrode il and thence through conductor 'it to point 'it on the low potential conductor lli.

Completion of this circuit energlzes the winding il causing the armature le to be displacedy to remove the same from engagement with contact di. This breaks the circuit extending from low potential conductor lt through the winding 93 of the relay dl', permitting the double arm switch Bil to be moved by a suitable spring (not shown) away from the contacts 8d and 9, thus breaking the circuit between the conductors l0 and li oi the main line through the solenoid windings 2t and d2 and permitting the valves I9 and 5lto be moved onto their seats by the springs 2l andV 3 respectively, thereby shutting off the flow of both the Juice Aand the steam or other inert blanketing gas.

Upon energizing the It will be noted that the insulating block l carrying the electrode 42 rides on the upper rim of the container 2 during filling of the latter with the liquid. This ensures that the liquid will be nlled to a constant level with respect to the upper rim of the can, which level can be varied by adjusting the position of electrode 42 in the threaded sleeve or bushing 4I.

It will be realized that the apparatus of the present invention enables a container to be thoroughly purged o1' oxidizing atmosphere by theintroduction of a non-oxidized liquid into the can, filling them from the bottom upward. The apparatus disclosed herein is much simpler and more effective than heretofore Lemployed and considerably reduces the expense of the filling operation.

I desire that my invention be limited only by the showing of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for iillingopen top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be lled for discharging a stream of inext'gas down through the open top of the containerto form a blanket in the container, a tube extending'down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottomthereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the iiow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, means for opening the liquid control valve after opening of the inert gas control valve, an electrode extending down into said container, and means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging said tube and electrode for closing said valves. y

2. An apparatus .for lling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be filled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a, point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the flow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, electromagnetic means for opening said valves, an electrode extending down into said container, and means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging said tube and electrode for closing said valves.

3. An apparatus for filling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be filled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the flow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, electromagnetic means for opening the inert gas valve and electromagnetic means including a time delay contactor for opening the liquid valve at a time interval after the opening 'oi the inert gas valve, an electrode extending down into said container, and means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging said tube and electrode for closing said valves.

4. An apparatus for filling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be filled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the i'low of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, a solenoid the liquid valve after the starting switch has for opening the inert gas valve, a `solenoid for opening the liquid valve, a starting switch for energizing the solenoid for the inert gas valve, a thermal switch for energizing the solenoid for been closed a predetermined time, an electrode extending down into said container, and means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging said tube and electrode for closing A said valves.

5. An apparatus for lling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be filled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through th open top of the container to form a Ablanket inthe container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container. beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the iiow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, a solenoid for opening the inert gas valve, a solenoid for opening the liquid valve, a starting switch for energizing the solenoid for the inert gas valve, timing means for energizing the solenoid for the liquid valve a predetermined interval of time after the closing of the starting switch, an electrode extending down into said container, and means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging said tube and electrode for closing said valves. 1 6. An apparatus for filling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be filled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the ow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, a solenoid for opening the inert gas valve, a solenoid for opening the liquid valve, a starting switch for energizing the solenoid for the inert gas valve, a timing means for energizing the solenoid for the liquid valve a predetermined interval of time after the closing of the starting switch, a shut-off electrode adapted to have the circuit closed between it and the tube by the surface of the liquid in the container, and means operated by the closing of the circuit through the shut-01T electrodes to de-energize both solenolds. 7. An apparatus for filling open top containers asiaovs with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned abovea container to be filled for discharging a stream of inertV gas down through the open top of the container to form a; blanket in the container, a tube extending down through .said nozzle and through the open top of the conthe liquid valve after the starting switch has been closed a predetermined time, a shut-ofi electrode adapted to have the circuit closed between it and the tube by the surface of the liquid in the container, and means operated by the closing of the circuit through the shut-off electrodes to de-energize both solenoids.

v8. An apparatus for lling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle y positioned above a container to be lled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through thel open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down througil said nozzleand through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the ow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position, a` solenoid for opening the inert gas valve, a solenoid for opening the liquid valve, a starting switch for energizing the solenoid for the inert gas valve. a timing means for energizing the solenoid for the liquid valve a predetermined interval of time after the closing of the starting switch, a shut-off electrode adapted to have the circuit closed between it and the tube by the surface of the liquid in the container, and a shutoff relay normally closed which is opened by the closing of the circuit through the trodes to de-energize both solenoids.

- 9. An apparatus for lling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be lled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open topof the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through said nozzle and through the Vopen top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing said liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves controlling the ow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means urging said valves to a closed position,

la solenoid for `opening the inert gas valve, a

solenoid for opening the liquid valve, a starting switch for energizing the solenoid for the inert 'gas valve, a thermal switch for energizing thc solenoid for the liquid valve afterA the starting switch has been closed a predetermined time, a shut-off electrode adapted to have the circuit closed between it and the tube by the surface ofthe liquid in the container, and a shut-01T relay normally closed which is opened by the closing of the circuit through the shut-off electrodes to de-energize both solenoids.

l0. An apparatus for lling open top containers with an oxidizable liquid comprising a nozzle positioned above a container to be lled for discharging a stream of inert gas down through the open top of the container to form a blanket in the container, a tube extending down through the nozzle and through the open top of the container to a point adjacent the bottom thereof for introducing the liquid into the bottom of the container beneath the blanket of inert gas, valves to control `the flow of inert gas through the nozzle and liquid through the tube, resilient means normally maintaining said valves closed, means to open the liquid valve after opening of the inert gas valve, an electrode extending down into the container, and further means including an electric circuit completed by the liquid engaging the close the valves.

tube and electrode to Y i RJONAID B. MCKINNIS.

shut-off elec- 

